Children's books

When I was in high school, I signed up for one of those book of the month clubs, where you get a whole bunch for cheap and then have to buy 3 full price or something? Over the course of a year or so, I received a whole shelf of Dr Seuss books, for my "hope chest". I was big into my "hope chest" (I didn't have said chest), but mostly related to having children. Anyway, some of the books I never even read. Mixed in with the classic Dr Seuss books, like Green Eggs and Ham, were books by Al Perkins. He might rhyme, but he is no Dr Seuss. Plus, has anyone noticed how strange many of those books (Dr Seuss included) are?

Anyway, one of these books in our collection is called "The Digging-est Dog". I try not to read that one, but Lucy picked it out tonight. I cannot make it through that book without sobbing. Like every page. It's a TERRIBLE book. Let me summarize:

It's written from the dog's point of view. He's in a pet store, tied to a hard-cold-stone floor, where he never learns to dig. A boy named Sammy Brown buys him and takes him home. Other dogs come around to befriend him and they all attempt to teach "Duke" how to dig. Day one is a flop, and everyone is sad, and Duke feels like he has failed his master. Next day, he tries again, but this time he is successful. So he digs. and digs. Pround and happy, his digging ends up destroying much of the town. Instead of proud pats of praise from his master, Sammy Brown catches up to him and says he's taking him back to the pet shop where he'll never dig again. Duke runs away by digging so deep he falls into a well. He cries out for help, and Sammy finds the compassion in his heart along with the other dogs to save Duke. In response, Duke makes it right by un-digging his mess....putting every thing back to normal, and learns to properly channel his digging, much to everyone's delight.

ok seriously....is it just my pregnancy hormones, or is that NOT a children's story? Maybe you have to read the actual words to realize how sad it is....like when Duke says "how could I have learned to dig when all I ever knew was a cold-stone floor?" I sobbed thru the book, and poor Lucy just kept hugging me and saying it was ok. I must have traumatized her... and right before bed even! I should have just closed the book, and picked something else. I don't mind if she sees my heart broken, and she doesn't seem to understand the implications of the story line....and I was hoping for resolution so I continued "reading".

Obvioulsy it's about more then the dog...it's the human plight....it's (to me) about orphans, and relationships, and faith, and dignity and compassion. How complicated!!! We did end on a happy note, and read an uplifting Sesame Street book.

My dear friend Carolyn was telling me tonight that sometimes my blog inspires her to want to write a children's story. I hope I don't "inspire" a book like this!!!

PS, i just looked it up on amazon to maybe post a picture of the book and read some of the reviews! I'm in the minority, so it was good to hear some positive points of view. How strange this world is. I need to do a better job at filtering!!